My Internship Program
A heartfelt reflection on my 3-month internship with The Wayout Media Network — a journey of growth, learning, and self-discovery. From writing lifestyle and religion articles to engaging in creative and outdoor activities, this experience shaped my skills, patience, and passion for storytelling.
Praise Chiamaka 
On July 2, 2025, a friend of mine sent me a message, which I would call an advertisement.
It was a window of opportunity –a rare chance that came only occasionally. Her message said that THE WAYOUT MEDIA NETWORK was hiring blog post writing interns and that the internship would last for 3 months.
Initially, I was thrilled and amazed to have been given the opportunity to grow and hone my skills. It was more like lines were falling in pleasant places for me. At that moment, I could see my dreams finally coming through, but it didn't stop my mind from wandering. At one point, I became hesitant because of the duration. I always find it hard to finish what I start, and I'm glad I discovered this trait early because, like they say, “Discovering a problem is the first step to getting its solution,” and I'm grateful towards our 2nd internship coordinator, Miss Ella, who pushed me further when I felt like giving up halfway.
The first step towards joining the internship required that we submit an 800–word count article on the topic–What to do when you no longer like your job.
I loved the topic and I wanted to just jump ahead and write the topic based on my experiences because of course, I did some jobs after my SSCE Exams but, one of the ethics of writing, requires that one makes some research on any topic no matter how well he or she thinks he knows because he's not just writing for the himself, but also for the readers.
After everything was done, I was accepted into this internship program, and here I am, writing about my experiences so far.
My Experience as an intern.
This wasn't just an internship program. It was more like rigorous training, where every step, task, challenge, and interactive session sparked curiosity within me. It stretched every fiber of my being. It unfolded some things I didn't know I had in me. It made me view everything–life in particular through different lenses.
While doing this internship, I committed to books. I made up my mind to diligently read every book, article, and journal I come across because it stretched my mind and helped me soar in the consciousness of my imagination.
It wasn't easy. There were times when I experienced writer's block–I was frustrated–I even went as far as questioning my ideas, but I thank God for Mr Gabriel Ozo. In one of our Interactive sessions, he shared a lot of insightful topics, challenges, and how to go about them. While he conversed with us during the interactive sessions, he talked about writer's block and how to handle it. He even shared some of his own challenges and how he tackled them, and till this moment, I'm grateful to him. I took most of his advice and implemented it, and it worked. Anytime I’m stressed out, I either take a walk, sleep, or converse lightly with a friend, and sooner or later, ideas will come rushing into me. It would be like a river that wants to overflow its banks.
Our Coordinators engaged us in so many activities. Both our first coordinator and the present one. Miss Chidubem and Miss Ella.
Apart from the articles that we were designated to write and the topics chosen by ourselves depending on our niches, we did some activities like the Doodles and DIY art drawings. We also engaged in outdoor activities like the street interviews.
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The Indoor activities–Doodle and DIY art drawings.
A sample on how to go about these drawings was sent to us, and I loved each of them, but the problem was how I could hold my pencil and draw them myself. In some cases, the drawings require that I sketch.
When the information about this activity was passed across, at first I wasn't happy because I didn't sign up for it and I didn't want extra stress cause at that time, I was on my Industrial training, but still I engaged in it with all joy. I took it as a privilege because one day, this part of art might be required of me. So I took it as it was–a training exercise. Undeniably, it was fun. Even my little sister tried to engage in this fun exercise with me.
The outcome of these drawings marveled me. It was so beautiful. It was given artistic vibes in every sketch, line, and edge.
Below are the drawings
DIY art…
The Doodles
The Outdoor Activity—My Street Interview.
I engaged in this interview twice, and I was glad I did. The First time I did it was around the hospital, and it wasn't as successful as the 2nd one. The 2nd time was around my vicinity, and apart from the lessons learnt, it was fun. I had the opportunity to speak with people I never knew—strangers. Some even gathered the boldness to ask for my number. Lol. Still, it was fun. I saw different perspectives of people—both the ones that agreed with the notion, the ones that disagreed, and some that stayed neutral.
I was given the topic: Everyone has a hand in the corruption in Nigeria. It was engaging, insightful, and mind-blowing.
Below is the link to the video of the street interview????
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Everybody has a hand in the corruption in Nigeria
My written articles during this internship.
The moment we commenced this program, our first coordinator, Miss Chidubem, gave us a list of niches to choose from. Minimum of 2 niches, and amongst many of them, I chose the lifestyle and religion niches because they aligned with my values, purpose, vision, and personality.
Below are some of my written articles across these 2 niches.
Lifestyle articles
Religion articles
Major Lessons Learnt During this Internship.
In the course of this internship program, I learnt a lot of lessons both as a writer, a colleague, and a Nigerian, and they are;
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Perseverance
As a writer, this is one lesson I've learnt. The journey to perfection and fulfillment won't always be easy. There will be stumbling blocks here and there, but one should always remember the reason why he or she started. If your “Why” is intact, then your “How” will always be figured out. Still, push despite all odds. This is the one way by which you can achieve your dreams.
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Patience
Everything will not always go our way. I realized this when I earlier experienced a writing block. Most times, when you expect ideas to flow, that's when they'll be on hold. When you expect everything to be figured out, life will teach you otherwise. So I've learnt to be patient. If it doesn't come today, then it'll come tomorrow. There's no need for forcing things. Patience, they say, is a virtue, and this is what I've learnt to uphold even across my personal life.
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Keep Learning
There's no limit to what one can learn in life as long as one is willing. My Bishop will always say, “The day you stop learning is the day you start dying”.
The more you learn, the more you know, and the more you know, the more you relate with others.
One cannot be a writer if one continuously depends on the knowledge of yesterday. Every day we learn from books, movies, journals, and even from our mentors.
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Compassion
You can't write to people you don't love. The only way a message can be passed across is when it's backed up by love.
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Tolerance
As a colleague, this is one thing I always remind myself about. To tolerate myself and also my colleagues. There were times when one of my colleagues behaved in a certain way. I wanted to shout and complain, but I reminded myself that if she knew, she would have done better. As humans, we function and our behavior is based on the level of our knowledge.
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I've learnt to love challenges.
During this internship program, I've learnt to love challenges. No matter the cost, as long as it's in my capacity, I'll challenge myself to do it and do it better than I did the last time. This is one of the ways to attain greatness.
As one takes up challenges, he/she become better and fear begins to give way for faith to take over.
The street interview I embarked on was a challenge to me, but I took it. The 2nd time I did that street interview, I did it better. I learnt how to communicate effectively with strangers and make them feel comfortable with their decisions.
Conclusion
Finally, the internship program I embarked on with uncertainty has ended in bliss, and now I'm more certain of the remaining days ahead. If I could be successful in this training, then every other thing is a piece of cake.
I learnt a lot about myself, people, and the society at large.
I thank everyone who has made this journey worthwhile.
The MD of this network, our Co-ordinators and supervisors, and my colleagues.
This is just the beginning, for I know there are greater days ahead.
